Shade holder for candles



March2 7, 19 28.

v D. M C. STEWART SHADE HOLDER FOR CANDLES Filed March 2, 1925 PatentedMar. 27, 1928.

entree v STATES PATENT OFFICE.

DOUGLAS MIACCOLLUM STEWART,-OF NEW' YORK, N. Y.

SHADE HOLDER FOR CANDLES.

Application filed March 2, 1925. Serial No. 12,553.

candle is consumed in orderthat thefiame all of the candle will at alltimes be properly positioned with respect to the shade.

Various attempts have been made to provide shade holders having such aproperty, but they have'been open to'numerous objections. For example,some of them, in descending, have a tendency to tip sidewise due to themelting of the wax or tall'ow more rapidly on one side than on'the otherand also due to the sticking of some part of the same to a portion ofthe candle body, such as might be caused by some of the melted wax ortallow running down the candle body and freezing to the shade holder,and in such cases the shade is he quently tilted 'into the range of theflame and scorched or burned. This is a fire hazard which is highlyobjectionable.

Ditliculty has also been experienced in maintaining a level congealedwax ring at the burning end of the candle body, which will prevent themelted candle body from running down the sides where it will be inaccessible for burning and perhaps congealing in manner that mightinterfere with the descent of the shade holder.

Other attempts have been made to support a shade and allow it to descendas the candle body is consumed, utilizing external poles or postssupported from the candle-stick holder, but such devices are more orless unsightly and unattractive in appearance and do not always functionproperly during their descent, due to binding upon one post more thananother.

an object of the invention is to provide an improved shade holder forcandles which may be readily adapted to fit candles of differentdiameters; which may be supported entirely by the candle and descend asthe candle is consumed which will permit of removal of the shadewitliout'removal of the holder; which may be removed with the shade bythe simple act of lifting the shade; which will always descend in astable condition as thecandle is consumed; which will maintain a uniformperipheral. wax

ring for the crater ofmelted wax below. the burning taper; withwhichloss of the melted wax by reason of its non-burning will be prevented;which will automatically disengage itself from any 'protuberances ofcongealed wax which may be formed or have congealed upon the body of thecandle during use; which will prevent tilting of the shade intoproximity to the flame; and

which will be free of all outside projections, posts or the like.

A' further object is to provide an improved shade holder foraccomplishing each orv all'of the above objects, separately andcollectively in various groups, and which will be simple, effective,durable, attractive in appearance and relatively inexpensive.

Various'otjher objects and advantages will be apparent from thefollowing description of an embodiment of the invention, and the novelfeatures will be particularly pointed out hereinafter'in connection withthe appended'claims.

In the) accompanying drawing Fig. 1 is an elevation of a candle to whichis applied a shade holder constructed in accordance with this invention,with the position of the shade illustrated in dot and dash lines;

Fig.2 is a plan of the same;

Fig. 3 is a sectional elevation through a' portion of the holder, thesection being taken substantially 2; and I c Fig. 4 is a sectional planthrough the same, with the section taken substantially along the line l4 of "Fig. 1. V

In the illustrated embodiment of the invention, the candle body 1,having a flame supporting taper 3, is supported in an upright positionin a suitable base or holder 2,

along the line 33 of Fig.

as usual heretofore. A short length of metal tubing 4, of greaterdiameter than the diameter of the candle body 1, is .pr0 vided with aplurality of slits 5 extending longitudinally thereof from one end, soas to provide a pluralityof arms 6 which ex tend partly the length ofthe tube. The arms 6 are'drawn together and in progressively overlappingrelation so as to give to the slitted end of the tube a frusto-conicalportion uppermost and of less diameter than Y the tube form pockets.

vides small spaces such as grooves or Valle s.

on the inner wall extending lengthwise of t e candle body over thelength of contact between the tube and candle. These grooves pass airaround the upper end of the candle and cool the wax or tallow around theedge of the burning end'and thereby maintain a congealed rim to confinethe melted wax.

Thus the rim does not melt at one side more than another, and the tubedescends quite uniformly, and there is no opportunity for the melted waxto overflow, congeal, and interfere with the downward travel of the tube4;.

, If any of the tallow or wax at the burning end does melt and reach thetube in such quantities that it cannot be retrained in the cratersurrounding the taper, it can pass downwardly through the valleys orgrooves 'Z or, if in sufficient quantity to overflow, upon the outersurface of the tube where it will be guided to the base without comingin contact with the sides of the candle body to which it might freeze.

The unslitted or lower end of the tube 4 is provided, at a plurality ofperipherally spaced points, with struck-out straps 8which extendhorizontally and with the body of Immediately below the straps orpockets, integral tongues 9 depend from the lower end edge of the tubeor ring to form pivot connections for a purpose to be explainedpresently. A plurality of prop members 10 are attached to the tube orring 4 by means of such depending tongues 9, the members or props havingapertures 11 through which the tongues 9 extend. The ends of the tongues9 may be clinched upwardly as at 12, therebyconfining the members tothetongues whilepermitting a hingelike movement between the members andthe ring .or tube 1.

Each member 10 terminates at its upper end in an extension or tongue 13which extends into the pocket formed by the'strap 8 above it, beingconfined in said pocket and against the outer face of the unslitted endof the ring with only suflicient play or clearance between it and thepocket walls to permit of a slight limited oscillation thereof upon thetube in a direction toward and from thecandle body. The members 10 arepreferably formed of strips of sheet metal, such 1 as spring steel orbrass, and depend clownwardly and inwardly into engagement with thecandle body where they arerolled back- .wardly as at 14 to form beadswhich engage with and run along the peripheral surface of the candlebody. The free end portions of the membersare extended upwardly andoutwardly as at 15. to form supporting arms,

upon which the lower end of a shade 16 may rest, as shown in Fig. 1. Thefreeends of the portions 15 are bent 'upright'as at 17,

and then fiangedradially and inwardly as at 18, so as to engage or hookover. a flange 19 provided'upon the lower end of the shade 16. 1 v

The rolled or beaded portions let of the members which engage the candlebody are inclined to vertical planes that are tangent to the candle bodyat the points of contact, The inclination of all the members should beperipherally in the same direction, as shown in Fig.4, so that if anymember, during the descent of the tube or ring 4, should "engage with anirregularity or protuberance upon the side of the candle body, itWilljautomatically be disengaged therefrom. The action with such aprotuberance as might be caused by the solidification of melted waxalong the side of the candle, is of a camming effect in a horizontaldirection, which rotates the tube until it is disengaged from theprotuberance. This action takes place because of the fact that all theportions 14 are horizontally inclined in the same direction, and itoccurs even though 'more than one member' 10 should encounteraprotuberance. I V

In the use of the shade holder, it is supported upon the candle body 1,as shown in F 1, with the converging end resting upon the upper end ofthe candle, so as to be supported thereby and descend therewith as thebody of the candle is burned away. The

entire tube or ring. 4 is out of contact with and spaced from the candlebody except where the converging end rests upon the upper end portion ofthe candle, and'at such contact the valleys or grooves 7 which areformed bythe overlapping of the arms .6

will permit ofcirculation of air upwardly This circulation of airthrough the tubes. will keep the peripheral portion of the upper end ofthe candle cool, so that a natural congealed'but slowly descendingwaxjrim will be produced as the support for the tube. tube may be drawnin or contracted at its ion The

upper end so as to fit candles of slightly different diameters. V

Any fluid wax or tallow which tends to overflow the margin will eitherpass through the grooves 7 or, if in quantity, will pass over theoutersurface of the tube 4:, so'as to be kept clear of the candle surface. 1The air space between the arms at the pointof overlap, and the fact-thatthe tube'isvof metal, aided by additional circulation and by'conductionof; heat, results in keeping the tube and the upper end of the candlebody cool enough to support the holder. 7

' The members 10, which are usually and preferably three in number,will'ride along the sidesof the candle and serve to keep. the lower endof the tube'or ring spaced equally on all sides from the candle. Theshade 16 will rest upon the outwardly extending portions or arms 15 ofthe members 10, and the normal distance between the'flanges 18 will besuch that when a shade is resting on the formed by the strap 8, theshade, when lifted, will be automatically moved into engage ment withthe rest of the flanges 18 so that the holder will always be lifted withthe shade. For example, when the shade is lifted, the particular flange18 of the arm of the member 10 which is at that time hooked over theflange 19 will be lifted slightly without lifting the tube or ring 1,and during such movement the shade will automatically be shifted towardthe other members 10 and into engagement with the other flanges 18,whereupon "further lifting movement will cause a lifting of the tube orring 4 from the candle.

If, for any reason, some of the fluid wax or tallow in the cratersurrounding the burning taper should overflow, run down the side of thecandle, engage the member and congeal and thus freeze the members to thecandle, the holder will automatically disengage itself. Since-themembers have only a limited outward movement, the continued descent ofthe free members will cause a slight tilting of the tube 4 and by reasonof the weight of the tube, the other member, which is frozen tothe'candle, will be moved away from the candle and thus broken loosetherefrom.

If any member 10 engages a protuberance upon the candle that mightinterfere with its descent, it will be cam-med horizontally untildisengaged therefrom, by reason of the inclination of the contactingportion let to the'plane which is tangent to the candle at the point ofcontact, as hereinbefore explained.

It will be observed that the center of gravity of the holder and shadeis relatively low and, therefore, the shade and holder will be unusuallystable in equilibrium, and there will be little tendency for the shadeand holder to tip sideways. Furthermore, by

reason of the limit to the movement between the members 10 and the tubeor ring 4, pro-' vided by the pockets formed by the straps 8, there cannever be suflicient tilting of the holder to carry the shade into orabove the flame. It will also be noted that'the tube or ring is pulled,not pushed, downwardly, which is important in maintaining the shade in astable condition.

Shade holders constructed in this manner will always descendin anupright condition, will never freeze or stick to the candle, or

tip the shade into position to be scorched, ignited, or injured by theflame. It presents an attractive appearance, since nearly the entireholder isconcealed by the shade, and the shade will always be'positionedin proper relation to the flame for thedesired illumination, throughoutthe burning of the candle.- I

It will be obvious that various changes in the details, which have beenherein described and illustrated for the purpose-of explaining thenature of the invention, may be made by those skilled in the art withinthe-principle and scope of the invention as expressed in the appendedclaims. r

Iclaim:

1. A shade holder for candles,.compris'- ing an element engaging anddescending with the upper burning end of the candle, a plurality ofmembersconnectedto said element to depend therefrom, said membersengaging with the candle body at spaced.

peripheral points of the latter and then extending outwardly toformisuppo-rtsfor a shade, the portions of said members which engage theside of the candle body-being inclined to planes tangent to the candlebody at the points of contact and the inclination of all of said'members corresponding in direction, whereby when any of saidmembers'en'gage protuberances uponthe candlebcdy, the said angle ofinclination will serve during descent of the holder to cause a gradualrotation of the members and elements about the axis of the candleandfree the members fr'om'the protuberances.

.2.'A shade holder for candles, comprising a metal tube of greaterdiameter than the candle body having slit-s extending longitudinallyfrom one end and thus providing arms which are sprung together toreducethe diameter at the upperend to slightly less than the diameterofthefcandle body.

whereby when the tube is placed over the upper end of a candle body theconvergent upper end will rest upon and descend with the upper end ofthe'candle, members connected to the lower unslittedend of said tubeextending downwardly and inwardly to engage the candle body and havingportions extending outwardly to form shade ,body during the descent ofthe tube in order to free it laterally from the protuberance.

I ing portions extending outwardly to form' 3. A shade holder forcandles, comprising an element of sheet metal which rests upon anddescends with the upper end of the shade supports.

41. A shade holder for candles, comprising an element of sheet metalwhich rests upon and descends with the upper end of the candle, theelement having near its lower end a plurality of peripherally spacedstruckout straps forming pockets, and tongues depending beneath thestraps, guiding members for said element formed of strips of sheetmetal, each having an end passing under a strap and having an aperturethrough which the tongue below the strap is passed to form a pivotconnection, with the strap and body of the element limitii'ig therocking movement of the member in a radial direction both outwardly andinwardly, the members having portions extending into contact with thecandle body and also having portions extending V outwardly .to formshade supports, the portions of said members engaging with the candlebody being inclined, in a horizontal direction, to planes which aretangent to the candle body at the points of contact, with theinclination of all corresponding in direction peripherally of the candlebody, whereby when one of the members engages an irregularity on thecandle body, it will be cammed horizontally and peripherally of thecandle body to free it'therefrom by the descent of the element andmembers.

5. A shade holder for candles, comprising an element of sheet metalhaving a convergent upper' end which rests upon and descends with theupper end of the candle, the element having near its lower end aplurality of pockets and tongues depending beneath the pockets, guidingmembers for said element formed of strips of sheet metal,

each having an end passing into a pocket and having an aperture throughwhich the tongue below that pocket is passed to form a pivot connection,'with the walls of the 7 pocket limiting the rocking movement of themember in a radial direction both out- Wardly and inwardly, said membershaving portions extending into contact with the candle body and alsohaving portions exs tending outwardly to form shade supports, thesupport ng portions of said members being flanged inwardly to engage ashade,

whereby when the shade is lifted, the engagement of any flange of amember with the shade will. automatically cause a move mentof the otherflanges into engagement with the shade during the lifting movement.

6. A shade holder for candles, comprising athin metal tube having aplurality'of slits extending longitudinally thereof from one end, theslitted end being reduced in 'diameter by causing an overlapping of thearms formed by the slits, whereby when the 7 tube is placed upon theburning end of a' candle the converging end will rest upon and descendwith the burning end of the candle, means carried by the tube and ridingalong the sides of the candle body to prevent tipping of the tube to anymaterial extent, the portions of said means which are en gaging thecandle body'being inclined, in

an approximately horizontal plane, to planes tangent to the candle bodyat the points of contact, whereby said means will be auto;

matically disengaged from any protuberance of the candle bodyencountered thereby by a lateral camming action upon the inclinedportions during continued descent I of the tube. 7 e

7. A shade holder for candles, comprising an element engaging anddescending with the upper burning under portion of the candle, aplurality of members carried by the element and running along the sidesof the candle body to prevent tipping of said element beyondpredetermined limits, the

portions 7 of said members engaging the candle being inclined inapproximately a horizontal plane to planes tangent to the candle body atthe point of contact, whereby DOUGLAS 1 MacCOLLUM 'STVEWART.

